Xcel Energy_Chanhassen Co Location Analysis
In partnership with Xcel Energy, Motorola Solutions has performed a high-level viability
analysis for co-locating their Land Mobile Radio communication equipment from their existing
Shorewood Service Center site to the proposed Crown Castle site located at 1455 Park Road.
After Motorola Solution’s analysis, it was determined the Chanhassen Crown Castle site is not
practical to co-locate for the following reasons:
A coverage study was ran on the proposed Chanhassen Crown Site and outbound
coverage is the limiting factor for this simulcast cell. Outbound coverage includes
destructive time domain interference inherent with simulcast systems. The same launch
delay timing, antenna system type, and effective radiating power used at the current
Shorewood Site was used to conduct the study in order to support an equivalent
comparison.
The antenna center of radiation height used for the Shorewood Xcel Energy Service Center
Site was 120 ft. The center of radiation for the Chanhassen Crown Site was 80 ft. And the
center of radiation at the new Chanhassen Xcel Energy Service Center Site was 140 ft.
Coverage modeling shows the loss of coverage at the Chanhassen Crown Site. The
Chanhassen Xcel Energy Service Center Site is recommended under this aspect as the
height will best clear local general clutter.
Please note the existing Shorewood antenna is a single dual-fed transmit/receive model
and is quite long. If the Chanhassen Crown Site is used, separate transmit and receive
antennas may be required due to space limitations. Use of separate antennas, and their
required vertical separation, would likely cause additional system performance issues
should one antenna need to be mounted at a height to accommodate the existing cellular
arrays.
It may be possible to extend the height of Chanhassen Crown Site monopole , but this
would require a structural evaluation and possible mechanical strengthening of the pole
and its foundation by Crown Castle to meet the latest TIA-222 standards. Further
evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with an Environmental
Assessment (EA) preparation, as well as FAA evaluation and local AM detuning analysis
would also be required.
The ground elevation determined for the Shorewood Xcel Energy Service Center Site was
961 ft, the Chanhassen Crown Site was 935 ft, and the new Chanhassen Xcel Energy
Service Center Site was 952.5 ft. The new Chanhassen Xcel Energy Service Center Site is
recommended under this aspect as the ground elevation there closely aligns with the
current Shorewood Xcel Energy Service Center Site.
The antenna Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) determined for the Shorewood Xcel
Energy Service Center Site was 140 ft, the Chanhassen Crown Site was 110 ft, and the
new Chanhassen Xcel Service Center Site was 183 ft. The new Chanhassen Xcel Service
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Center Site is recommended, as it will provide the most effective site contribution to the
overall simulcast cell.
After reviewing site images and speaking with Crown Castle, the ground space at the
Chanhassen Crown Site appears to be crowded. With the standard 11 ft by 16 ft Xcel
Energy equipment shelter, an external generator, and fuel tank, ground space does not
appear to be available within the current site compound. Crown Castle would need to
rearrange the compound or expand it which will likely need a modified agreement with t he
landowner, if possible. As a new build, ground space at the new Chanhassen Xcel Energy
Service Center Site compound can be planned or the equipment can be placed inside of
the main building, as it is now at Shorewood, depending on the desired configurat ion.